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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



S^ZMZSOZCsT. 




SALVINI. 



Charles D. Koppel, Publisher, 115 and 117 Nassau Street,. 

NEW YORK. 



SAMSON. 



.A. TEAGEDY IUST FI"VE ACTS, B~5T 

IPPOLITO D'ASTE. 




TRANSLATED BY W. D. HOWELLS. 

if ■ 

WITH THE ENGLISH AND ITALIAN WORDS, 

AS PERFORMED BY 

SIGNOR SALVINI, 

DURING HIS FAREWELL AMERICAN TOUR, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 

MR. A. M. PALMER. 



Charles D. Koppel, Publisher, 115 & 117 Nassau Street, 

NEW YORK. 



COPYRIGHT. 1389, BY C. D. KOPPEL. 






DRAMATIS PERSONS. 



SAMSON, ^ 

MANOAH, 

THEBNI, f Israelites. 

NERIAH, 

SALEM, J 

LAMECH, 

ZAMBRES, 

GOMER, Philistines. 

DELILAH, 

MELCAH, J 

Israelites, Populace, Soldiers, Slaves and 
Philistines. 
Time : 1117 b. c. 



SAMSON. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

The Jews languish under one of their periodical subjections to foreign dominations, as a pen- 
alty for their sins. This time the Philistines are their oppressors and taskmasters. 

The action opens with a sacrifice by Manoah and other pious Hebrews. Manoah chants a 
rhythmic prayer. The leading Jews bewail the distresses of the people and express their disap- 
pointment in Samson, who was to have been the regenerator and deliverer. Manoah justifies his 
son, and narrates the miraculous circumstances of his birth. Samson himself appears, rebukes his 
detractors and tells how he had been engaged to marry a Philistine woman ; how, on his way, he 
had been assailed by a lion, which, unarmed, he had fought and killed ; how he had, at his wed- 
ding festival, proposed a riddle with a heavy wager, and how his wife had wheedled him out of the 
answer and told it to his friends and companions, who had thus cheated him. He now declares his 
intention to go to Askelon and there take his wager by force from other Philistines. We learn, 
subsequently, that he has done this ; and that, in so doing, he has killed several Philistines, and 
thus excited public indignation. Delilah is arrested, having been found in his company ; but she 
is released by Lamech, a Philistine prince, who directs the crowd against Samson's house. Pres- 
ently Samson reappears and reviles his enemies, announces that he has paid his wager, and, when 
the Philistines, not daring to attack him, seize his father, Samson rescues the old man, and retires 
with threats of revenge and retribution. 

The next action takes place in Delilah's house. Here Lamech persuades her to make use of 
her influence with Samson, and to find out the secret of his great strength. She admits her duty to 
her country, but pleads her love for Samson and refuses. Meanwhile news is brought of his terrible 
slaughter of Philistines, with the jaw-bone of an ass. Lamech again urges her, she repeats her re- 
fusal ; but on Lamech's solemnly assuring her that no harm is intended against Samson's life, she 
reluctantly consents to act with her countrymen, and to deliver Samson into captivity. Melcah, a 
slave woman, whose son had been one of the victims at Askelon, and who acts from motives of 
vengeance, is introduced into Delilah's house as a spy on both Delilah and SamsOxN. Samson 
now appears; he drinks wine, and, in his drunkenness, tells Delilah that his strength lies in his 
hair. Delilah would withhold the secret, but Melcah betrays it to the exulting Philistines. When 
he awakes he finds that he has been shorn ; he is set on by the Philistines and taken to prison. 
Delilah abandons herself to passionate grief, rejects the homage of her people, and reviles 
Lamech for his perfidy ; and Manoah tells the narrative of his sufferings, and of his eyes being 
destroyed. 

The last act takes place in front of the temple of Dagon, the fish-god and tutelar of the Philis- 
tines. Ordered to exhibit himself at the games, Samson submits. He prays for Divine help, and 
becomes conscious of the miraculous restoration of his strength. He is visited by his father and 
Delilah, who persuade him to escape. He refuses. Delilah retires. The father leads him to 
the outer pillars of the temple, the Philistines being inside. He bows himself, strains on the sup- 
ports, and brings down the whole structure, burying himself in the ruins, while the cries and 
shrieks within show the havoc he has wrought. 



SAMSON 



ACT I. 

Scene. 

A high table-land in Zorah, surrounded and shaded by trees, and accessible by a craggy 
path, jR. Thebni, Neriah and many Israelites, of both sexes, discovered assembled 
around a blazing pyre, in the manner of the ancie?it sacrifices. Manoah, standing 
alone, intones the following prayer : 

Manoah. 
Rise, rise, sweet smell of sacrifice, ascend 
To the Eternal ! 

Thebni, 
To the throne of God, 
Rise fragrant smoke of spices and of gums, 
And humbly bear His people's prayer to Him ! 

Manoah. 

Let us pray, and let us scatter 

Ashes on our foreheads bent 

In the dust ; let crag and cavern 

Echo with our sore lament, 
Till from Engardi to the cedars 

Of high Lebanon, far abroad 

From the Red Sea unto Jordan 

All bow down before our God ! 

We have sinned against the Almighty, 

At whose frown the universe 

Trembles, and who stays and launches 

Every peril, every curse. 

Thou, who mad'st the constellations, 
Taught'st the Cherubin their flight, 

Holdest in thy fist the thunders, 

Givest life to Day and Night : 



SAJL SON. 



In the temples of their idol 

With the Ammorites knelt we ; 

Yea, but Ashtaroth henceforward 

Unto us as dust shall be ! 

From the depth of our abasement 

Hath our faith arisen free : 

Lord, upon the wings of angels 

Take our penitent prayers to Thee. 

Pardon us, Oh, God, whose vengeance 

So hath chastened us, and subdued ; 

Help thy children, succor, save us, 

From our cruel servitude ; 

In the tents, among our women 

Rise another Jael and dwell ; 

Be our enemies rent and scattered 

By the Lion of Israel ! [All rise.] 

Thebni. 
Vain hope, vain hope ! The Lion of Israel, 
The bold and valourous youth, upon whose brow, 
Jehovah's fire hath blazed from the first hour 
Of childhood, now hath turned his face away 
From his own people. 

Neriah. 

Zorah's mighty cedar 
Transplanted, strikes into Philistine soil 
Its roots, and spreads them far abroad, perchance 
Unto our hurt. 

Manoah. 
Nay, such iniquity 
Is not in my son's heart ! 

Thebni. 
Samson was chosen 
To be our judge ; in Samson's hand we placed 
All rule and power, that he might crush our f.oes ; 
But Samson houses with our enemies ; 
He is their friend, he feasts and riots with them ; 
Yea, and as if our Israel were barren 
Of fair and virtuous daughters, he has chosen 
Among the wanton Ammoritish girls, 
A woman for his wife. Are these, Manoah, 
Are these the promises, the prophecies, 
Thine Elema dreamt ? 

Manoah. 
Mine Elema dreamed not, 
Mine eyes betrayed me not ; and the Almighty, 
He hath not lied. Is it unknown to you, 



SAMSON. 



Perchance, how face to face, my wife and I 
Beheld the Eternal here ? Ah, yes, Jehovah's voice 
Is strange to you, I know, but not to us. 
Who in this place, upon yon loftiest steep, 
The sacred footprints of God's holy angel 
Kissed with glad lips ! The will of the Most High 
Fell deep into our hearts, and in my soul 
It burnetii yet, so that I can repeat 
All, word for word, to you : " Wife of Manoah ! " 
Thundered the Angel, " Thou art barren now, 
"And bearest not, but thou shalt yet conceive 
" And bear a son. Therefore, beware, I pray thee, 
"And drink not wine, nor any potent drink, 
" And eat not anything that is unclean ; 
" For lo, thou shalt conceive and bear a son, 
" Upon whose head never let razor come ; 
" For he, thy child shall be a Nazarite 
" To God, even from the womb, and shall begin 
" To succour Israel from the Philistine's hand." 
So spake the angelic lips, and in this place, 
Here, where before the King of Kings we offer 
Sacred and solemn vows, I sacrificed 
With grateful heart a poor wee-lamb upon 
This lowly stone. The humble sacrifice 
Was, with as strange a miracle, accepted : 
The spilt libations and the fragrant herbs, 
The lustral waters, in the whirl of fire 
Rose from the ashes, and before our eyes 
Within that column of vapor and of flame 
The Angel vanished, while through all the heaven 
Rang loud hosannas to the promised child. 

Thebni. 
The fame of that portent has gone throughout 
All Zorah ; and thou knowest well, Manoah 
What honor and what reverence and what faith 
Have ever followed thee, thy wife, thy child, 
From Israel's fathers. But what recompense 
Have we yet had from thee ? 

Neriah. 

Have we received 
Our freedom from our promised liberator ? 

Thebni. 
We are condemned to harder servitude, 
And from the race of Dan hath risen, not a Lion 
Fearless and free, but a poor crawling worm 
That licks the right hand of our enemy. 



SAMSON. 



Neriah. 
He is a traitor, and I hold him such. 

Manoah. 
And by what right ? My son 

Neriah. 
Yea, I proclaim it : 
The head of Judah, the elect of Zorah, 
Must not and should not riot with the wicked 
In their lewd orgies. Not a fault, I hold it, 
But horrible sin and blackest crime in him 
That he betrothed himself unto a vile 
Idolatrous girl. 

Thebni. 

O, light of Zorah, how, 
How art thou faded ! How thy lovely dawns 
Are turned to darkness ! How the lillies lie 
Broken among thy valleys. Naught remains 
But idle tears ! 

Neriah. . 
Whom shall we trust ? 

Thebni. 

O, what 
Shall be our refuge now ? 

Samson. 
II petto mio ! My breast ! 



'Tis Samson ! 
My son ! 
Thou ! 



Thebni. 
Manoah. 
Neriah. 
Samson. 



Di traditor la taccia 
Voi mi scagliaste, il so ; ma traditore 
Sanson non e, ch' ove lo fosse, io vostro 
Giudice qui, di fellonia, me stesso 
Punir saprei. — 



Thou hast hurled ac me 
The name of traitor. But no renegade 
Is Samson, for if he were false, I here, 
Your judge would punish him for trea- 
son, yea, 
Even I myself. 



Neriah. 
Haply thou comest not 
From our foes' borders ? 

Thebni. 
And art not betrothed 
Unto a maiden of the Amorrites ? 



SAMSON. 



Lo sono : io non l'ascondo, 
E che rileva ? Da straniere zolle 
Strappando un fiore ho dal mio cor 

strappato 
Forse il pensier di voi ? Distrutta ho 

forse 
La religion dei padri ? Ah, no ! La 

patria 
Ouivi mi scorse, la guidommi il solo 
Dio, che l'immensa eternitade abbraccia. 
Quel Dio, che me, dall' Alveo materno 
Prefisso avea a suscitar mirandi 
Sensi di vita, e che con me le piante 
Pose in Filiste. Egli, spirtal scintilla 
Nell' anima soffiommi, e allor, tenaci 
Come di ferro io dentro me sentiva 
Fremer le membra, intumidir le vene 
E nervi, e polsi, e tendini gagliardi 
Farsi giganti ! 



Samson. [Appearing on rocks.] 

Nay, it is true : I seek not to conceal it. 
What matters it ? Plucking a flower up 
Out of an alien field, have I plucked forth 
All fealty to you from my breast? Have I 
Betrayed the faith of our forefathers? No! 
My country went with me, the only God 
That sits above the Heavens guided me ; 
The God that in my cradle woke in me 
This wondrous sense of life. He led 

my steps 
Unto Philistia. — He breathed into me 
A spark divine, and straight I felt myself 
Become all steel within, and my limbs 

throbbed, 
And all my pulses, nerves, and sinews 

grew 
In strength gigantic ! 
Thebni. 



Well, and wherefore ? 



Volute 
Furon mie nozze, onde il Filiste orde- 

goglio 
Tutto fiaccassi .... 



Samson. 

My nuptials were appointed that the 

pride of the Philistines might be 
broken. 
Manoah. 



How ? 



Delle belve 
Piu forte io sono — vel dimostri, il mio 
Selvaggio ammanto. 

What mean'st thou ? 
Speak clearly ! 



Samson. 

I am stronger than the fiercest beast. 

Behold 
My savage mantle in witness. 

Manoah. 
Thebni. 



Lungo 
Le folte vigne di Tamnata, il piede 
Non posto avea, quando improvviso, io 

sento 
Stormir quei tralci, e reboar lontano 
Siffatto un urlo ed un ruggir cotale, 
Che di Tamnata le vallee, gli spechi, 



Samson. 

Hardly had I set foot among 
Timnath's thick vineyard when I heard 

a stir 
Upon a sudden in the vines, and then 
A growl, and then a roar so terrible, 
So loud and deep that all the vales and 

caverns 
Of Timnath bellowed back, and as in 

fear 



SAMSON. 



Ne mugghian tutti — ripercossa 1' eco 
Par ne paventi — io, no. — Saldo, securo, 
La belva io cerco, quando, in men che il 

dico, 
Sbalza un lion ; dalle dischiuse fauci, 
Dall' irto crine e dal ringhiar, palesa 
Rabida fame : un nulla m' e — Di fronte 
Ei mi si para : colle adunche zanne 
Tenta afferrarmi . . . io, men sottra^go 

— allora 
Ei rugge, sbuffa ; e in un balen ritenta 
Mordermi ai fianchi — Di Cerasta in 

guisa 
Ratto io mi volgo, sua cervice agguanto, 
Stringo sua giubba, e con orrenda scossa 
L'urto, il rovescio, ed inchiodato a terra 
Tutto lo tengo. Dal sanguigno sguardo 
Ei da veleno invan ; digrigna invano 
L* avido dente, che di lui piu fiero, 
Nella voragin delle immonde canne 
Io profondo mie pugna ; e si con ambe 
Strazio, dilanio e squatro, che sul morto 
Re delle belve vincitor m' assido. 

Manoah. 
God shielded thee, my son ! 



The echoes fled — The spirit of the Lord 
Came mightily upon me. Firm and bold 
I searched the vines, when, swifter than 

my words, 
Leaped forth a lion with distended jaws, 
Wild tossing mane, and ranks of teeth 

agrin, 
And mad with famine. Full in front of 

me 
He crouched and bounded at my breast, 

but I 
Slipped lightly backward, while he roar- 
ed and raged, 
Then lightning-like he sprang upon my 

side, 
But I, more supple than a serpent, twisted 
And turned myself, and seized him by 

the mane 
And clutched his throat, and with a 

mighty shock 
I hurled him down and held him with 

my foot, 
Nailed to the earth. In vain his flaming 

eyes 
Shot fire at me, in vain he writhed and 

showed 
His ravening teeth, for I more fierce 

than he 
Into the hollow of his reeking throat 
Plunged deep my fist, and then with 

both hands tore 
And rent him as I would a kid, and sat 

me down 
Victor upon the dead king of the desert. 



Thebni. 
What divine power compassed thee 'round ? 
Samson. 
Di Mose la santa |j The sacred star of Moses 



Stella guidommi. Siccom' ei con- 
verse 
Gia 1' acque in sangue, e dalle calme i 

flutti 
Dell' Eritreo desto tal' io, per alta 
Provvidenza, vedea dal voratore 
Venirmi il cibo, e dalla forza il dolce. 



Protected me. And, as of old, he turned 
The rivers into blood, and bade the floods 
Storm back upon our pathway through 

the sea, 
By the help of the Most High did I 

draw forth 
Meat from the eater, sweetness from the 

strong one. 



SAMSON. 



Thebni. 
Thy words are like a riddle. 

Samson. 



Ne mal ti apponi ; 
Che in tai parole* sta 1' enigma es- 
presso 
Di che mie nozze s' allegrar, nei sette 
Splendidi giorni — Ognun di voi, conosce 
Che antica usanza e dagli Evei discesa 
Di festeggiare con eletta schiera 
Di giovani, lo sposo — II Filisteo 
Largo men fu di trenta — ad essi, allora 
lo proposi 1' enigma, e statuimmo, 
Ch' ove non sciolto, ei mi darebber 

trenta 
Ricchi sindoni ; e decifrato, io loro 
Copia tal ne darei. Simboleggiata 
Nel voratore non vedean que' ciechi 
La forza del lion, come non visto 
Era nel cibo, il miel, che in suo car- 
came 
Tolto io m' avea — no, divinato, mai 
Non 1' avrebber coloro, se il tradi- 

mento 
Me non colpia ! Dalla mia donna i 

vili 
Strapparono il segreto ; ei m ; han 
trafitto 



Thou sayest well ; 

For in these very words the riddle lies 

With which I baffled all my wedding 

guests 
The sennight that we feasted. Ye all 

know 
It is an ancient usage, handed down 
From our forefathers, for the bridegroom 

thus 
To banquet with his comrades. The 

Philestines 
Numbered not less than thirty, and I put 
This riddle forth to them, and we agreed 
That if they could not guess it they 

should give 
Thirty rich change of garments. But if 

they 
Could read my riddle within those same 

days, 
Then I should give as many robes to 

them. 
They knew not that the eater symbolized 
The lion in his strength, and that the 

meat 
Was but the honey that the wild-bees 

stored 
Within his carcass, and that I drew forth 
And ate, and made my father, and my 

mother 
To eat thereof. And they never could 

have guessed 
Save for their treachery. They beset 

my wife 
With threats to burn her and her father's 

house 
With fire. And so, for seven whole 

days, my wife 
Came weeping unto me, and cried, and 

said 
I hated her, and loved her not, for I 
Had spoken her people a riddle and not 

told her 
The secret. Therefore, on the seventh 

day, 
Because her weeping wearied me, I told 

her, 



SAMSON. 



Nell' intimo del cor : ma innanzi a 

voi 
Che del servaggio 1' orrida catena 
Meco mordete, io, come 1' atro fuoco 
Distruggitor di Sodoma e Gomorra, 
Giuro piombar sull' esecrata gente 
Che nasce da Caldei ; giuro sterminio 
Far delle cose lor, dei loro armenti, 
Delle madri, dei figli, e dei lor Numi, 
Onde dal lezzo di si turpe infamia 
Col Dio de' padri il popolo risorga. 



And she betrayed me. And that treason 

of theirs 
Rankles within my heart. I swear to you, 
Who gnaw the chain of slavery with me, 
I swear to fall upon the accursed race 
Born of the Chaldees, as the fire from 

Heaven 
Destroying fell on Sodam and Gom- 
morah ! 
i I will lay waste their houses and their 

lands, 
; Their flocks and herds, and fields of 

standing corn, 
| And I will slay their wives and little 

ones, 
| And overthrow their idols till God's 
people 
Rise from their suffering and their 



infamy. 
Neriah. 
Would it were as thou sayest. 

Thebni. 

Even now the fields 
Of our fierce enemies whiten to the harvest, 
While ours are laid in ashes and in smoke, 
Or trampled by the Assyrian horse. 

Neriah. 
The curse 
Of Cain has fallen upon us. 

Thebni. 

Like the serpent 
We feed our famine in the dust and grass, 
Under their feet. 

Samson. 



Gli atomi di loro 
Biade saranvi, e refrigerio, e vita, 
Pei giorni che verran : come le serpi 
Non striscerete, no ; ma benedetti 
Nella stirpe dell' uom, voi coll' altera 
Aquila, il guardo appunterete al Sole ; 
Dai raggi suoi, che son di Dio scin- 
tilla, 
Dentro vostr' alme pioveran le caste 



But in the days to come 
Their corn shall feast you, and ye shall 

not crawl 
Like serpents then. But blessed among 

men 
With the eagles fire, your eyes upon the 

sun 
Whose brightness is the radiance of the 

Lord 
Shedding the light of faith into your 

souls. — 



SAMSON. 



Rugiade della fe, di quella fede 

Che a rovesciar di Abimelecco il 

soglio 
Armo di pietra una femminea destra ; 
Quella fede immortal che nel deserto 
I padri nutricd ; quella ch' io sento 
Ispirar la mia mente, e sovrumana 
Darmi la forza di atterrar filiste. 



We trust in thee ! 

Salem. 

A band of lawless youths, 
Out of the country of the Ammorites, 
Come with loud yells and cries, and call upon 
The name of Samson. 

Samson. 



The light of that faith which in other 

times, 
Armed with a pebble a weak woman's 

hand 
To beat the greatness of Abimelech down; 
The immortal faith that in the wilderness 
Sustained our fathers, and that now I feel 
Fill all my soul, and give me strength 

beyond 
The might of man to bring Philistia low. 

Thebni. 

[Enter Salem, ,] 



e pagherd ? 



Del divinato enigma The Y demand the prize 

Of the solved riddle. I will pay it friends. 
These ruffians have won from me their 

thirty 
Rich change of garments, and I go to 

slay 
Yet other thirty of their kind to clothe 

them. 



Si vuole il prezzo — . 

Compagni, 

A me costoro guadagnaron trenta 

Ricchi sindoni ; ma a vestir quei vili 

Trenta piu vili io spogliero. 

Thebni. 
We go with thee. 

Samson. 

Niuno mi segua — in Ascalona io li Let no one follow, 

corro. I I go down alone to Askelon 

Manoah. 

Upon thy footsteps I 

Samson. 



Dentro Tamnata in breve 
Te rivedro. Padre col popol nostro 
Curvati al suolo ! e con preghiere e voti 
Deh ! m' ottenete, che nel pugno io 

stringa 
La non vista di Dio spada tremenda. 

Curtain. 



Nay, father, I shall see thee soon again 
In Timnath. Meanwhile mid our people 

bowed 
Before the Lord, with prayers and vows 

entreat 
That in my right hand I may grasp and 

wield 
The omnipotent and unseen sword of 

God. 



ACT II. 



Scene. 

The Valley of Timnath, at the foot of Mount Ephraim. 

\Enter Zambres and Lamech.} 
Lantech. 
It matters little. Israel deserves 
To be subjected unto us. 

Zambres. 

Nay, then, 
Gaza shall scarce rejoice if Zorah's children 
Repine and murmur. 

Lantech. 
The great torch of Ammon 
Keeps vigil over us. Ashtaroth is stronger 
Than that archangel of the fiery sword, 
Who as men dreamed or fabled in old time, 
Thrust our first parents out of Paradise. 
She hath made us lords over all Israel, 
New glory springs from the Etean stock 
In us. 

Zambres. 

The people go no longer bent 
Like beasts of burden ; from the servile glibe 
Starts the free growth, and from a wretched rabble 
Of wandering shepherds, heralded by prophets, 
A hero comes. 

Lantech. 
Thou mean 'st that pitiful wretch, 
The Judge of Zorah — him whose mighty limbs 
Put his weak soul to shame — thou mean 'st Samson, 
From whom the soft note of a woman's pleading 
Had power to lure the secret that his heart 
Should have kept locked within it. 

Zambres. 

Fatal riddle, 
That cost us far more tears than it cost him ! 

Lantech. 
Thou viewest the present with the eye o' the herd. 
I pierce the future's darkness and discern, 
Amidst the private sorrows of the few, 



SAMSON. 13 



The overwhelming public good. And who 
Are we to fly before the apparition 
Of this phantasmal hero ? We shall see, 
Though he hath slain a young lion, as he boasts, 
With naked hand, whether when fully armed, 
He will know how to front the angry pride 
Of the Philistine princes. 

Zambres. 
Thou knowest well 
What he hath done in Askelon. 

Lantech. 

I know 
That like a coward he laid violent hands 
Upon the flower of the illustrious youth 
Of Askelon, and would have robbed them ; but, 
That he hath vanquished thirty of their number, 
I'll not believe. 

Zambres. 
A moment since there came 
Bereaved mothers and disconsolate widows 
To witness it with tears. 

Lantech. 
Their blood shall be 
Avenged ; and to avenge it thou shalt see 
Our people rise like the long waves that beat 
The shores of Askelon. Ah, woe to Samson, 
If he return ! I swear to Ashtaroth, 
His bridal bed shall be his tomb ; his wife 
And his wife's kindred all shall share the ruin 
Of this vile Hebrew robber whom she wed. 

\Enter Guards, Gomer and Delilah.\ 
Gomer. 
We found this woman not far off from here 
With Samson. 

Delilah. 
I can hardly be a stranger 
To the Philistine prince. Why hide myself? 
If haply unknown to you, am I not known 
Too well in my own Sorek ? 

Lantech. 

O, Delilah, 
What joy thy coming brings me ! Hospitable 
Be all our land unto the beautiful 



J4 SAMSON. 



And lovely lady that the vale of Sorek 
Rejoices in. Let no one lift his voice 

Against her here it is the sovereign will 

And mandate of your prince ! 

Gomer. 

And sh 11 we, then, 
Become her safeguard ? Nay, let us revenge 
Our wrongs upon his paramour ! 

Lamech. 

I will, 
And I command ye that ye pay her honor ! 
How hath 't offended you, this loveliness 
That draws so many lovers after it ? 

Delilah. 
In every woman born 
Dwelleth a spirit that, openly or in secret, 
Controls her impulses. Mine, boldly broke 
The rein ; and like some wilding, wayside flower 
That any passer plucks, and having breathed 
Its sweetness, casts aside forgotten, bloomed 
My beauty in the world. Within the arms 
Of many, in the heart of none ; 'mid loves 
Unbridled, loving overmuch, I never 
Loved any truly ; and in this I am guilty. 

Lamech. 
She hath told you all. And woe be unto him 
That offers her offense ! Are ye so blind 
As not to see the true source of our sorrows ? 
Hath he no fields, hath he no kindred here, 
That treacherous Judean ? There let your revenge 
Glut itself 

Zambres. 

Haste ! before the impious Samson 
Come again, go ye to his house. 

Gomer. 

Yea, there, 
There fall our hate ; and in the pitiless flames 
Let his house crumble, and amidst the ashes 
There let him find his wife. 

Lamech. 
I will not baulk 

Your generous fury. Go ! [Exit Gomer with populace. \ 

[Aside.] And I shall have 

No longer a rival. 



SAMSON. 



Delilah. 
What say'st thou ? 

Lattiech. 

Delilah, 
Remain here, if thou wilt in perfect safety, 
Nor let the tumult of the mob affright thee. 

Delilah. 
My life hath schooled me against every chance : 
Born by the waters of the Dead Sea, I, 
From my first years, was blown about the world 
Like a leaf played with by the restless winds ! 
Bereft of friends and home, in Palestine, 
My beauty ripened, and the multitudes 
That thronged about me, when with fire divine, 
I sang, and struck the psalter in the dance, 
r'qll^d me alluring, called me beautiful ! — 
Ah. ataller the sorcery of applause 
Than the mob's fury that thou speakest of ! 
The heart grows hard amid delights like mine : 
Their flatteries were as draughts of Sorek wines ; 
The pomps of Sidon dazzled me ; and I, 
Child of the desert, dreamt of palaces ! — 
Hither I came, and here will I remain, 
As careless of the future as the present. 

LamecJi. 

And so live, for so 
The prince of the Philistines wills. Thou, Zambres, 
Open thy house to her ; and let her be used 
With every honor. 

Zambres. 
Trust in me. 

Lantech. 
[Aside, to him.~\ Perchance 

We may avail ourselves of her. 

Zambres. 
{Aside to Lantech.] I hope SO [Exit.] 

Lantech. 
I have known thee long, Delilah, by the fame 
Of thy fair face, and of thy life, and all 
The charm that clothes thee ; but the witchery, 
The exquisite sweetness of thy voice, hath now 
Won such a sweet dominion over me 
That here I offer thee the full assurance 
Of a true friendship. 



1 6 SAMSON. 



Delilah. 
Thou ! my lord. 

Lantech. 

Ere long, 
I shall return to thee. Others have trampled 
Upon thy name — I'll lift it to the throne ! [Exit.] 

Delilah. 
Dreams of an hour ; alluring promises, 
Desire created and the sated wish 
Destroyeth ! Ah, I drift upon the sea 
Of life, and though the deep is smooth and fair, 
I drive to shipwreck still, I fear. So be it ! 
I will still live my fill of pleasure. 



[Enter Manoah.] 



Manoah. 
Woman, 
Is this the vale of Timnath ? 

Delilah. 
Thou hast but now 
Her lofty height descended. From what land 
Art thou, old man ? Judea, perchance ? 

Manoah. 

I am, 
Thou hast guessed right. I left my native fields 
Yesterday morn at dawn, and I have wandered 
By day and night among the rocks and brambles, 
Hither and thither, till my aching limbs 
Do crave repose. 

Delilah. 
The aspect of age is ever 
Sacred to me. Come, venerable man, 
And sit thee here 

Manoah. 
I thank thee. May the Lord 
Make his face shine upon thee. 

Delilah. 
Wilt thou not 
Refresh thee with a friendly cup ? 

Manoah. 

'Twere idle. 
I keep my life from all the vaunted juices 
Of the glad vine, and in the limpid springs 



SAMSON. 1 7 



Alone I slake my thirst. 

Jehovah's messenger did so command my wife, 

And I fulfill his sovereign will. 

Delilah. 
Our gods 
Are less austere. 

Manoah. 
I venerate the law 
Of the God of Abraham, and evermore 
I bless the Lord whose grace hath made me father 
Of my great son. Well were my toil repaid 
If I could reach yon steep, and see myseif 
In my son's eyes and kiss him on the brow, 
And smooth the long waves of his flowing hair. 

Delilah. 
Thy son ? Thou 

Manoah. 
I am Samson's father 

Delilah. 

Hush ! 
Speak not his name ! Woe to thee if they heard thee ! 
The wrath of the Philistines is poured out 
Against thy house. Thy life 

Voices [from ivithin.] 

There, on the mountains ! 

[Enter Gomer, Zambres, Populace, and Soldiers. Samson is seen upon the heights 
above, descending. \ 

Gomer. 

Up there, upon the cliff ! 

Zambres. 
What ? Who ? 

Gomer. 

There, yonder, 
The impious Hebrew stood ! Up, follow him ! 

Samson. 



Frenate 
L' urlo codardo — a che tai grida ! Nuovo 
Forse vi son ? 



Cease — cease these coward yells ! Whom 

do you shout for ? 
Am I unknown to you? 



Zambres. 
Too well we know thee ! 



SAMSON. 



My son 

Do not reveal thyself ! 



Manoah. 
Delilah. 
Samson. 



Come il devo, 
A sdebitarmi io vengo. Ov' e la schiera 
De' valorosi miei compagni, eletti 
A discoprir 1' enigma ? Oh ! via, si 

avanzi 
La copia degli eroi — trenta sindoni 
Io lor promisi, e nelle case loro 
Gia fedel li recai. 



I come 

To pay the debts I owed. — Where is the 
throng 

Of my bold comrades who were chosen 
to guess 

My riddle out ? Let them come for- 
ward, here, 

That company of heroes ! I promised 
them 

Thirty rich change of raiment, and al- 
ready 

True to my word I've placed them in 
their houses. 



Zambres. 
Those mantles reek with the fraternal blood 
That thou hast shed. 

Samson. 



Un sol ne avanza, 
E al piu prestante vincitor, io voglio 
Di propria man qui darlo — II vostro 

Prence, 
Dite, dov' e ? Colla consorte mia 
Forse in eloquio sta ? nuovi secreti 
Le strappa ei forse, o il focolar profana 
Dell' assente marito ? 



One only have I kept, 

And I would fain bestow it with mine 
own hand 

Upon your most illustrious warrior. 
Tell me 

Where is your prince ? Is he in con- 
clave yet 

With Samson's bride ? Is he perchance 
extorting 

New secrets from her? Or is he dese- 
crating 

The absent husband's fireside ? 



Zambres. 
The fireside 
O' the alien robber is no longer his ; 
No longer is the ill-starred woman thine 
That was thy wife. 

Samson. 

Born of your own, she ever 

Was loth and cold with me. I thank you 

more 
For taking her away than giving her. 



Nata di voi 
Mai s' addiceva a me : piu. che del darla 
Grado vi so del torla, 



SAMSON. 



Zambres. 
Yea, and she shall be taken from thee ! 

Samson. 
Vedrolla io primo. I will first see her. 

\Enter Lantech.} 

Lantech. 

Nay, thou shalt embrace 
Only her ashes ! 

Samson. 
Che ! Come ! What sayest thou ? 

Lantech. 

Unlooked-for, 
Illustrious guest, to pay thee honor 
We had lighted certain bonfires. See, the sun 
Hath scarcely light enough t' eclipse the flame, 
Vivid and fierce, that yonder swells and rises 
In smoky columns. O, but look, — for thine, 
Thine are those fields, thine are those blazing harvests, 
Thine are those slaughtered flocks and herds, and thine 
That desolate hearthstone ! 

Samson. 
La moglie mia ? And my wife ? 

Lantech. 
Thy ruin 
Is thy wife's sepulchre. 



Oh ! scellerati ! 
E non bastava il trascinarla a' vostri 
Cupi disegni ? E guiderdon di morte 
Deste alia fede sua ? Turpi idolatri, 
Io vi conosco omai ; ma inulta V ombra 
Non fia di lei !. Come fra lampi apparve 
Su 1' Orebbe il Signor, da quell' incendio 
Tale ei mi appar . . . Io veggo . . . il 

sento . . . e armato 
Del suo santo furor, guerra vi grido. 



Samson. 

Oh, monstrous villain ! 
; Was it not then enough that you had 
lured her 
Into your dark designs ? Was death the 
guerdon 
| Ye gave her faith ? Filthy idolators, 
! Now — now I know you ! But she shall 
not rest 
Long unavenged ! As the Lord showed 
himself 
! In Horebs lightning, so in yonder fl-ames 
He shows himself. I see him, feel him, — 

filled 
With wrath divine I proclaim war against 
you ! 



SAMSON. 



Lantech. 
Thou darest so much ? Ah, traitor f 



Solenni 
Son mie parole ! Filisteo ! trabocca 
L' atra misura dei delitti ! in noi 
Tu gettasti V infamia, e sul caduto 
Popolo mio d' ogni sventura aggravi 
L' orrido pondo — dagli altari nostri 
Tu rovesciasti il Dio ; calpesta hai 1* area 
Del Divo patto ; e il verecondo fiore 
Delle vergini nostre, in turpi haremi 
Teco trascini ; il so : ma dl : chi sei ? 
Qual dritto hai tu ! Qual ti legar tuoi 

padri 
Eredita fra noi ? Quella dell' odio ; 
Ed odia pur, che su tua fronte, scritto 
Porti stranier. Noi dell' Egizia plaga 
No, non veniamo — di Giacobbe, in noi 
Fruttifica la pianta : egli sostenne 
Coll' Angelo, per noi, la diva pugna 
Sul torrente di Gad. Egli, per noi, 
Dan benedisse, e gli grido : Di serva 
Nasci, o figliuol, ma giudice possente 
D' altra tribu sarai — lungo le vie 
Tu sarai serpe, o Dan, ma pei nemici 
Ti sveglierai cerasta : ai lor destrieri 
Tu morderai la zampa ; e si tremendo 
Fora il dolor, che ragguppati insieme, 
Cavallo e cavalier, morti cadranno. 

Lantech. 
But thou shalt first in chains 



Samson. 

Hearken, Philistine 
Unto my words. The measure of thy 

crimes 
Is full to overflowing ; thou hast heaped 
Insult and outrage on us, and hast made 
Power the heavy load of misery 
That crushed my father's people. Thou 

hast profaned 
The altars of our God — trampled the ark 
O' the covenant under foot, and dragged 

the flower 
Of our chaste virgins into thy lewd 

harem — 
I know it well. And who and whence 

art thou 
Who sit thee in dominion over us ? 
What heritage did thine ancestors be- 
queath thee 
Among us ? A heritage of hate, and hate 
Shall be between us ever, for thou 

bearest 
Upon thy forehead written, ALIEN. Oh, 
We sprang not from the mire of Egypt, 

we ! 
The seed of Jacob beareth fruit in us ; 
He wrestled with the angel of the Lord 
Upon Periel for us, and prophesying 
He spoke of Dan that he should judge 

his people, 
And be a basilisk in their foeman's path 
To bite the horses. But that horse and 

rider 
Should fall and perish in their agony 
Together ! Hearken to me ! I am of 

Dan 
And I will be the basilisk in thy path 



Ponga la mano. 



Samson. 
Sul Nazzareo, nessuno II Let no man lay 



His hand upon the Nazarite. 



SAMSON. 



Lantech. 

Fall upon him 
With stones, and beat him down ; let the wretch die 
Beneath the scourge. On, on ! what do ye, slaves ? 

Cowards ! [The Philistines dratv back terrified.] 

Zambres. 

My lord 



Degni 
Sono di te ! Lamech a ornar tue membra 
Eccoti il sajo. 



Samson. 

Oh, they are worthy of thee, 
Lamech. Here, take this mantle to 
adorn thy limbs. 

[Tosses a tunic to Lamech.] 



O, scorn. 

My son ! 

Art thou his father ? 

It is my boast ! 



Lamech. 

Manoah. 
La??iech. 
Ma?ioah. 



Lamech. 



Ho, let this hoary wretch 
Die in his stead ! 







Gomer. 


Kill him ! 




Delilah 


Ah, no ! 




Gomer. 




No 


man 



Shall save him ! 

Samson. 
La man di Dio lo puote. 
(Getta a terra Gomer e raccogliendo di 

terra la mascella d'Onagro dice :) 
Salvo ei lo vuol ! Net pugno mio strin- 

gendo 
D'Onagro estinto questo immondo 

avanzo, 
Giuro, correndo i Filistei sentieri 
Diffondervi il terror : giuro, tremendo 
Come il Lion della tribu natale, 
Non rugger, no, ma seminar la morte. 
(/ Filistei si ritraggono spaventati, mentre 

Sansone gV incalza.) 



[Advancing up n Manoah.] 

But the hand of God shall do it 

He wills that he be saved. — Under this 

burden 
I swear to scatter ruin where I go 
Throughout the land of the Philis- 
tine ; I, 
Terrible as the Lion of my tribe, 
Swear to mark my way with blood and 
death. 



ACT III. 

Scene. 

Interior of Delilah's house j a room furnished with luxurious divans ; vases of perfume 
in various places ; a harp on its pedestal, &c. 

[Lantech discovered, with Melcah at his feet.] 

Lamech. 
Slave, hast thou heard me ? 

Melcah. 
Deep within my heart 
Thy words are graven. 

Lamech. 
And thou swearest ? 

Melcah. 
I swear, 
Here in the dust, a blind obedience 
To thee, my lord, as I do hope to have 
Vengeance for my dead son — by Dagon ; I swear ! 

Lamech. 
Rise, then, and hearken unto me. Be thou 
Delilah's shadow ; be all humbleness 
With her, but be thou prompt and fierce to act 
When the hour comes ! Thou knowest how Delilah 
Plunges more deeply into her wild orgies ; 
And there is not one breath of true love in her : 
She sells her favors and she changes lovers 
As lightly as the fashion of her garment. 
Look thou to take her, therefore, in some lapse 
Of variable love-fever, that her lover 
May die through her. 

Melcah. 
Yea, he shall die through her ! 

Lamech. 
Use Zambres for thy purpose. 

Melcah. 
I will be cautious. [Enter Delilah.] 



SAMSON. 23 



Delilah. 
About my threshold thronged but now glad youth 
And beauty, with the sounds of minstrelsy 
And singing, — but thou wast not there, my lord : 
Why wert thou absent ? 

Lantech. 
I awaited here 
The splendor of the fairest star of all — 
Thou bringest it ! 

Delilah. 
Oh, very kind ! 

Lantech. 

I've heard 
Thy praises from the faithful Melcah, here ; 
I'm glad thou lik'st so well the slave I offered. 

Delilah. 
It was a gift indeed. 

Melcah. 
I hope to prove 
Worthy, Delilah. [Aside.] And I will ! [Exit.} 

Lantech. 

I came 
Hither for no light purpose. Thou dost know 
How much thou hast promised me ? 

Delilah. 
And have I not 
Kept faith with thee ? 

Lantech. 
Blinded by love, thou see'st 
A friend in yonder Hebrew, and thou know'st not 
The venom of the serpent in his kiss. 
Aye, he spoke truly unto thee ! Canst thou 
Call thyself mistress of his heart ? 

Delilah. 

Nay, then, 
Have I not twice entreated him to tell me 
Where lurked the might of his strong limbs ? 

Lantech. 

And twice 
Hath he not mocked at thee and told thee lies ? 
And when thou cried'st, " The Philistines be 



24 SAMSON. 



Upon thee, Samson !" he did break the withes, 

As flax is broken when it toucheth fire. 

" Tie me," he said, " with seven new ropes that never 

Were used before, and I shall be as weak 

As other men," and when thou called'st them 

That lay in ambush in thy chamber, straight 

He burst the ropes from off his arms like thread. 

An insolent jest this ruffian puts upon us 

And thou must suffer it no longer. 

One last attempt is to be made. Delilah, 

Is thy soul equal to the work ? 

Delilah. 
Why not ? 

Lantech. 

Dost thou love Samson with thy wonted love, 
Or hath he touched thy heart ? 

Delilah. 

With manly love 
Samson loves me ; and I 

Lantech. 
Thou lovest him 
With love as great ? 

Delilah. 
I cannot answer no. 

Lantech. 
Ah, idle hopes, ah, empty dreams ! The gods 
Did seem to shower from full hands upon thee 
Their gifts of beauty and of genius, that 
This cursed serpent of the tribe of Zorah 
Might die upon a bed of flowers through thee. 
But thou dost pity him and hold him dear, 
Thou lovest him ! O blind ! Thine own hand shuts 
The gates of a bright future in thy face. 
The nobles and the people vied together 
To hail thee saviour of our nation ; sang 
Thy praises with the harp, and would have strewn 
Thy path with gems and gold ; and thou, Delilah, 
Thou scornest all their love. 

Delilah. 

The name of traitress 
Fills me with loathing. 



SAMSON. 25 



Lantech . 
And was she not, then, 
A traitress whom the tribe of Judah boasts 
Blessed above the women in the tent ? 
She did betray, not thou. — Our Sisera 
Fled from the slaughter unto Heber's tent, 
And Jael, Heber's wife came forth to him ; 
"Turn in," she said, " my lord, turn in tome : 
Fear nothing," and he turned into her tent. 
"Give me, I pray, a little water to drink, 
For I am very thirsty," so he prayed her. 
He asked for water and she gave him milk, 
She brought him butter in a lordly dish ; 
She put her right hand to the workman's hammer, 
And softly went in unto him and smote 
The tent-pin through his temples to the ground, 
For he was fast asleep, and weary. So 
He died. " He bowed before her feet, he fell, 
There where he bowed him, there he fell down dead." 
So sang their prophet — woman, Deborah, 
Exulting in the treachery of Jael. 
And dost thou hesitate to deliver up 
Thy country's foe ? He comes a conqueror, 
And not a fugitive ; he comes to thee 
Followed by hate and tears ; he only comes 
To bring disgrace on thee, to make a jest 
Of the Philistine blood that he hath shed. 
And thou thyself must fly before his scorn, 
Unless thou learnest soon to arm thy soul 
With patriot hate. Arouse thyself, Delilah ; 
Wake, wake ! And since thou needs must live by love. 
Let love of country kindle in thy heart ; 
Burn in thy kiss and kill in thine embrace ! 

Delilah. 
Thou dost ask too much ! 

Lantech. 
I can ask no less. 

Delilah. 

My lord O, no ! \Enter Zambres.\ 

Zambres. 
He flouts at us beyond 
All sufferance ! 

Lantech. 

Samson ? 



26 SAMSON. 



Zambres. 

Such might is in him 
That he seems more than mortal. 

Lantech. 
What 
Hath he done now ? 

Zambres. 
He hath shown such valor, 
So strange and marvellous are his deeds, that words 
Of mine could never tell them. He hath blighted 
The glory of our fertile fields, and burned 
Our standing corn, our vineyards and our olives ; 
His hand hath smitten us sorer than the whirlwind ; 
Our lands are turned to savage wastes ; the rock 
Of Etam is our sepulchre. 

Lantech. 
Accursed wretch ! And did not hundreds rise 
For every ten that fell ? Had ye no swords 
Within your scabbards ? 

Zambres. 
Terror-struck, the most 
Fled from his face, and whosoever drew 
His weaponj bit the dust. 

Delilah. 
O, from his eyes 
There flashes such a supernatural fire, 
Such force, that human eye cannot endure 
To meet it. Yea, the grandeur of a god 
Is his, a god's sublimity and splendor 
Dwell in his love and hate ! And he is surely 
Sent of the gods : it is impossible 
To fight against the gods ! Let us appease 
This mighty one with humble supplications, 
Let us disarm his wrath with tenderness 
And love. 

Lamech. 
Not so ! Let us oppose his craft 
With craft as pitiless ! Delilah, thou 
Shalt overcome him, thou shalt break the spell 
That guards him, thou shalt pierce the cunning mesh 
That wraps him round. What gods, what powers have sent him ? 
Phantoms to awe the vulgar, empty masks 
To frighten children ! Samson is no god, 
But common clay, the idol of an hour. 



SAMSON. 27 



Deliver in my hands that wretch, and thou 

Shalt have from every prince of the Philistines, 

A thousand and a hundred silver pieces ! 

I promise it, I swear to pour out gold 

From overflowing hands upon thee, cover thee 

With gems, if thou canst, by thy subtle arts, 

Steal me his fatal secret. 

Delilah. 
Steal his secret ? — 
I ! 

Lantech. 

What ! Dost thou still hesitate ? 

Delilah. 

Our hearts 
Are blent in one, and she who loveth Samson 
Cannot betray him ! Thou sett'st terrible war 
In me ; for I can see the thing that I should do 
As a Philistine woman, and I feel 
The shame of my abject condition, yet, 
Why wilt thou plunge me into this abyss ? — 
Doom me to sacrifice my lover ? No ! 
I will not ope his tomb ; he shall not taste 
Death in my kiss ! 

Lantech. 
What death ? Who talks of death ? 
Woe be to him who even thinks of death 
To Samson ! Do not fear. We only seek 
To take his strength away. His life shall be 
Sacred to us ; we will preserve his life 
And keep it for thy love. 

Delilah. 
And dost thou promise 
All this to me, O prince ? 

Lantech. 
I swear 't ! 

Delilah. 
And I 

Lantech. 
Speak ! 

Delilah. 
I — I will content thee ! [Enter Samson.} 

Zambres. 



He! 

Oh ! Samson ! 



Delilah. 



28 



SAMSON. 



Aside.] 



Villain ! 



Lantech. 



Samson. 
Di Dalila le case 
Mai si conoscon piu — Sede di grandi 
Venieno ! 



I scarcely recognize Dililah's house 
Since it became the haunt of princes ! 



Delilah. 



Samson, 



The prince- 



Sanison. 



Alia Citta di Gaza 
Le porte io tolsi, onde piu agevol sia 
Di ritornarvi ai prenci. 



I took away the gates of Gaza, prince, 
That when thou dost return there thou 

mayest find 
An easy entrance. 



Lantech. 
And I trust to meet thee 
In Gaza soon. 

Samson. 
Non manchero. {Exit Lamech and Zambres.'] || I will not fail. 

Delilah. 

How glad 
I am to have thee here, my love, my hero ! 
How glorious is thy name ! O, though I know 
Thy laurels drip with my Philistine blood, 
I cannot weep for it, for my pride in thee 
O'ercomes my pity and my duty. O, 
How I rejoice to see thee once again ! 
The sun that beat upon thee in the fields, 
Hath only made the more beautiful 
Thy tawny face ! Who can compare with thee, 
My lover ? Who can stand so tall and strong 
Beside thee ? None ! The man of my heart's love 
Is first of men. 



Qual nelle pugne, io spiego 
Unico e sol della vittoria 1' ali, 
Tal di mia donna, unico e solo, io voglio 
Dirmi signor ; vo' della donna mia 
Crearmi un tempio, ove posar le fronde 
Di mie sante battaglie, ove i secreti 



Samson. 

As in the fight I share 

My perils and my triumphs with no other, 

So would I be ; I only, I alone, 

Lord of my love, for I would make my 

love 
A temple where I could devote the 

honors 
In sacred battles won, and hide the 

secrets 



SAMSON. 



29 



Dell' anima depor — fra le sue braccia, 
Come nel sen materno, io riposarmi 
Vo' dai disagi : in securta fidarle 
Voglio mia fronte, onde il sudor ne 
asterga. 

Delilah 

Let me be all this to thee 



Of my inmost soul ; and I would rest 

myself 
From every trouble in my love's embrace, 
As on a mother's breast, and yield my 

brow 
That she might wipe the sweat of strife 

away. 



Tu ! . . . nasci Filiste 



What matters it i 



Samson. 

. . I Thou ? born Philistine ! 

Delilah. 



Samson. 



Io, d' un rival soffrire 
L' ombra non posso : e tollerarne ahi ! 

forse 
Troppi dovrei . . . Dalila se . . . 



But I could ne'er endure 
The shadow of a rival, and thy lover 
Must suffer many rivals — Ah, Delilah, 
If 



Delilah. 

I was that thing : — An orphan flung 

From Dead Sea shores, even as a stone is cast 

Out of a sling. I fell into the mire 

O' the wayside ditch. But I have washed me clean 

At the pure fount ! Love hath redeemed itself ! 

The roses bloomed beneath my feet ; their sweet 

Was as the breath of serpents to my soul, — 

I l.ved a poisoned life. Its joys have passed 

Like the heat lightning ; naught but shame remains 

Of all my delights. Forget, forget my past ! 

Read not my infamy there ! — O look, — she's dead, 

The false Delilah of others ! Thy Delilah 

She alone lives ! 

Samson. 

E mia ti tengo ; e dell' amor prelibo 

Teco la tazza — oh gioia ! Oh ! cor 
sfuma 



La densa nube degli umani affanni 
Al raggio dell' amor ! Bellici usberghi, 
Generosi corsier, vincenti bighe, 
Oricalchi, trofei, palme ed allori, 



And mine thou art forever ! 
I would drink deep the draught of love 

v/ith thee. 
Oh, rapture — oh, how the thick cloud of 

ills 
That weighs on mortals vanishes before 
The light of love ! — Oh, warlike panoply, 
Ye noble steeds, and ye victorious cars, 
Ye trumpets, and ye trophies and 

laurels, 



3° 



SAMSON. 



Che siete voi, se non vi abbella il riso 

De' teneri complessi ? Non e vita 

Ove non siede amore ; e amarti io 

voglio 
Dalila mia ! 



What are ye all, if ye be not endeared 
And consecrated by love's smile There 



No life where love is not. And I do 

love thee, 
My own Delilah ! 

Delilah. 

Where love is, is trust ; 
And hast thou faith in me ? And wilt thou pour 
The secrets of thy soul into my breast ? 



Samson. 



I suoi piu ascosi 
Ti aprirei penetrali : ogni secreto 
Disvelarti saprei. 



I will ope wide to thee its inmost cham- 
ber : 
Thou shalt know all its mysteries. 
Delilah. 



Not all ! 

Sanson tie eela. 

Thou wilt keep one ! 
II chiedi. 



Samson 
Niuno 



I will keep none from thee. 

Delilah. 

Samson. 

II Ask it ! 



Delilah. 
What power, what fate, or magic science 
Gave thee the strength that makes thee mightier 
Than beast or man ? 

Samson. 

L' ebbi da Dio. || The Lord. He gave it me. 

Delilah. 
But where doth 't lie in thee ? 

Samson. 
Dove all' eterno Fabbro 
Piacque locarla. Ad opere mirande 
Concetto io fui ; la mia nascenza, un 

riso 
Fu del Signor, che I'immortal sua forza 
In me spird — guai, se loquace il labro 
Disvelasse il mister che a Dio mi lega ! 
II novissimo allor di tutti i nati, 
Maledetto io sarei ! 



There where it pleased 

The eternal maker to conceal it. I 

Was born to do miraculous deeds. The 
Lord 

Did smile upon my birth, and breathed 
in me 

His strength divine. Woe to any bab- 
bling tongue 

If it betray the mystery he bequeathed 
me, 

Accursed among all the sons of men, 

I were the most accursed. 



SAMSON. 



3i 



Delilah. 
Old wives' tales ! 
Nay, tell me not Jehovah is the cause. 
Thou keep'st thy secret from me. I know well 
Another reason ! 



Ed e? 



Samson. 

I What is that ? 

Delilah. 



The doubt 
Thou hast of me, that am Philistine born. 

Samson. 
De' cori n Hearts have no country, we are one in 
Una e la patria ; e nell' amor siam' uno. j love. 

Delilah. 
Ah, thou canst not deceive me ; for thy silence 
Confirms my fear. 

Samson. 
Dalila ! || Delilah ! 

Delilah. 

Keep thy secret. 
Nay, keep it ! Go, go, Israelite, and find 
Some fairer, dearer, worthier one than I — 
Get thee to her, and tell it 






Samson. 
Nessuna 
Se tu non sei, quest' intimo secreto 
Mai mi torra, che non creava Iddio 
Donna di te piu alteramente bella : 
L' Eva primiera, non avea 1' incanto 
Delle tue forme — non brittar si vivi 
Gli occhi di lei. Deh ! non li torcer . . . 

lunge 
Deh ! non andarne .... senti 

. . . e febbre ardente 
Di amore in me .... nelle mie 

man la tua, 
Dalila, stringi .... senti . . . 

Qui .... sul fero 
Lion di Giuda, or la dolcissim' onda 
Riversa della vita . . . . un bacio 

. . . .• un bacio .... 
Alle gioje del ciel, m' imparadisi ! 



None shall know, 
If thou know not the secret of my soul. 
For the Lord never made a woman yet, 
So wonderfully beautiful as thou ! 
Eve, first of women, never had the charm 
Of thy fair form, and never shone her eyes, 
As bright as thine. — Oh, turn them not 

away ! 
Nay, do not go ! Listen to me ! Love 

burns 
Like fever in my blood ! Delilah, clasp 

thy hand 
In mine — Oh, stay— what a sweet flood 

of life 
Breaks over the fierce lion of Judah now! 
One kiss — one kiss — Oh, rapture of the 

skies ? 
I am in paradise ! 



3 2 SAMSON. 



Delilah. 



Ho ! — wine of Sorek ! 



Samson. 
E vuoi .... J Thou wouldst 

Delilah. 
Sing thee a glorious song of love ! 

Samson. 
Deh ! si lo spiega. || Yea, sing. 

{Enter Melcah with vase and cups.\ 

Melcah. 
Here are the cups. 

Delilah. 

But ere I sing, 
Taste thou this Sorek wine. 

Samson. 
Nol posso. J I must not drink it. 

Delilah. 

I offer thee the cup of Noah ; and my hero 
Refuses the gift of bliss ! Wilt thou not drink 
The nuptials of our souls ? 

Samson. 
Io ? Si . . . . || I ! — if 

Delilah. 

This is 
The dawn of love. — Come let us pledge each other 
Eternal truth and fealty. Swear ! 

Samson. 

II giuro. I swear. 

Delilah. {Chants following verses.] 

In the land of his foes, without arms, without steed, 

My love is the boldest to do and to'dare ; 
Like the crest of high Carmel he lifteth his head, 

Like the myrrh and the saffron he perfumes the air. 
Sweet star of my soul ! Like honey his words ; 

His limbs are like columns of steel and of gold ; 
His looks pierce like lances, they fright the wild pards ; ' 

In ruin before him his foemen are rolled. 



s am son. 



33 



Samson. 



Libera il grida, e al popol tuo, ripeti 
L' alto concetto. D' Israello i figli 
Sofferser troppo, ma 1* invitta pianta 
Di Gedeon . . . rivive in me . . . 

[Shows signs of drunkenness.] 

Melcah. 
Insolent ! 



Cry aloud to thy people, and repeat 
That which thou singest. Israel has 

suffered 
Sorely. But Gideon's unconquered seed 

Survives in me. 



[Aside.] 



Delilah. 
Rest thou here. [Leads Mm to ottoman.] 

Samson. 

Ah ! donna mia ! || Ah, my love ! 

Delilah. 
Wilt thou still conceal from me 
Where thy strength lies ? 

Samson. 



Scoprito tu . . . del tuo lion, ne' 
folti 
Velli, la cerca . . . o del mio cor regina. 



Search thou the tangled mane 
O' the lion for his might, Oh, my heart's 
queen ! 



Delilah. 
O'er the dead and the dying he sendeth his roar, 

The lion of Judah, my Samson, my own ; 
On my lap stream his locks that the steel never shore, 

And there hides the secret of none ever known ! 



[Chants again.] 



Samson. 



Mai non ti apponi 
Iddio, 
La sua forza poneva . 

O, joy ! 
Dalila ! 



ne miei crini, 



Thou sayest well — The Lord did hide his 

might 
Within my locks. 



Melcah. 
Samson. 



Delilah ! 



[Sleeps.] 



Delilah. 
Samson ! Have I betrayed thee ? [Sees Melcah.] O, alas ! 

Melcah. 
[Coming forward.] He lieth sunk in deepest slumber ! 



Delilah. 
What! 



Thou hast heard ? 



Melcah. 



I have heard everything ! 



34 SAMSON. 

Delilah. 
And thou would'st 

Melcah. 
Wreak my vengeance on him ! 

Delilah. 

No! 

Melcah. 

Aye, so ! My murdered son's blood cries to me 
• From his new grave ! 

Delilah. 

{Flinging herself upon Samson .] Never ! 

Melcah. 
[Dragging her away.] Away With thee ! 

Mine is the man thou hast betrayed. The mother 
Arises from the slave ! Philistines — come ! 



[Enter Zambres and other Philistines.'] 



CURTAIN. 



ACT IV 



Scene. 

Same as end of Act III. Samson asleep on Ottoman. Melcah standing beside him. 
Zambres and the other Philistines form a circle around him. Delilah prostrate in 
intense self abaseme7it at foot of Ottoman. 

• Zambres. 

He slumbers long. 

Melcah. 
He fell asleep In joy. 
Let him awake in shame ! 

Zambres. 
Aye, now at last 
This Israelitish terror of our race 
Shall be our scoff and scorn. 

Melcah. 

And now at last. 
Oh, pent up hate that so hath swelled my heart, 
Thou may'st burst forth, and sweet shall be the vengeance 
That I shall taste ! 

Zambres. 

We shall all share thy vengeance. 

Delilah. 
It is a coward's trick ! 

Melcah. 

The trick was thine ! 
Poor fool ! Thou hast sown love and reaped contempt 
Till now ; but now thou shalt reap glory ; thou, 
Once idol of the populace, shall be 
The pride of princes. Thou didst well fulfill 
Thy task and thou shalt have a worthy guerdon. 

Delilah. 
Melcah 

Melcah. 
Art thou not glad ? 

Delilah. 

I am ashamed 
Of my misdeed ; would that this night could hide me 
Deep in its blackness evermore ! 

Melcah. 

The sun 
Shall show thee as thou art ! {Pause.) 



36' SAMSON. 



Samson. 
Dalila ! || Delilah ! 

Delilah. 

Oh! 
He speaks ! 

Samson. 



Oh, my Delilah, where, where art thou ? 
Dost thou not hear me ? Let me look 
on thee. 



Dalila mia .... dove se' tu ? non 

m' odi ? 
Vederti io voglio .... 

Zambres. 
{Advancing.) Nay, look on the Philistines ! 

Samson. 

Ye, and so few 

Of you ? Have you forgotten Askelon ? 

The hundreds and the thousands that I 



Voi ! si pochi ! Non vi si para innante 
La strage d'Ascalona, i cento, i mille, 
Ch' io di mia man fiaccai ? 



slew there 
j With my own hand ? 

Zambres. 
That which thou wast thou art 
No longer. 

Samson. 
Cotanto ardisci ? Ah ! vil ! Villain — dost thou dare so far? 

Za?nbres. 
Yea, the wings of Zorah's eagle are clipped, 
And thou art but a croaking raven now. 

Sam so Ji. 
Io son leone . . . ma quale ignoto I I am a Lion.— But what unknown Ian- 
Languor mi prende ? guor seizes on me ? 

Zambres. 
What is it stays thee, Samson ? 

Samson. 



Incerto 
Perche traballa il pie ? Nazzareo 
Forse non sono ? Ah ! si, lo son 

Gran Dio ! ! 
La chioma mia ! la chioma ! 



I My feet, why do they stagger ? Am 

not I 
I A Nazarite, perchance ? I am — Great 

God ! ! 
I My hair — my hair ! 



Melcah. 
We've shorn it from thy head ! 

Zambres. 
This woman-warrior trusted in a woman ; 
Let's mock him to his face ! 



SAMSON. 



37 



Accursed ! 



All. 

Samson. 

E il sono The air around me hisses in my ears, 



E maledetto sei, tremendamete 
Gia mi sussuran 1' aure — Dal umile 
Foglia del campo, al piu robusto cedro, 
Dal lago al mar ; dall' aquila all' insetto; 
Dalla terra e dal ciel, dovunque orrende 
Mi colpiran bestemmie ... Di Caino 
Piu colpevol son 'io . . . solo un fratello 
Ei di sua man trafisse . . . io, mill' e 

mille 
Salvar poteva . . . un popolo dovea 
Tor dal servaggio . . . e infamamente, 

il mio 
Popol, condanno a schiavitu di sangue. 

Melcah. 
Ah, how his pride is broken ! 

Zambres. 

Felon, stretch 
Thine arm out for the manacle. The dungeons 
Of Gaza now shall be thy home. 

Samson. 
Io ! prigioniero ! . . . I I, captive ? 



" Thou art accursed !" From the frailest 
leaf 

Unto the mighty cedar ; from the pool, 

Stagnant and foul, unto the shoreless 
sea, 

From the sun fronting eagle, to the 
signet, 

From earth to ^eaven, all things, every- 
where, 

Heap curses on me ! — Guiltier than Cain 

Am I, for Cain shed but one brother's 
blood, 

/ could have rescued thousands upon 
thousands, 

Redeemed a nation from its servi- 
tude, — 

And I have infamously doomed my 
people 

To pitiless slavery evermore. 



Io ! no ! Dalila ov' e ? 1' estrema volta 
Deh ! ch' io la vegga . . . Ove sei tu ? 

Non senti 
La voce mia ? nella fatal tenebra 
Perche ti avvolgi ? Io scoprirotti ! Oh ! 

grazie, 
Spirto d' Averno ! ! E a che mi sfuggi ? 

Vieni, 
Vieni, spergiura ! Inghirlandar tua vita 
Io voleva di fiori ; e tu di spine 
Ceppo mi doni ? ah ! ben mi sta ! Con- 

nggi . . . 



I — no ! Delilah ! Oh where is she ? I'd 

see her 
Yet once again ! Where art thou ? Dost 

not hear 
My voice ? Why dost thou hide thee in 

the night, 
The fatal night ? I'll find thee — oh, 

thanks — thanks ! 
Spirit of hell, why dost thou fly from 

me ? 
Come — come — thou perjurers ! I'd have 

wreathed thy life 
With flowers ; and thou dost garland 

mine with thorns, 



38 



SAMSON. 



Qui, qui configgi sul nudato cranio 

II serto dell' infamia Venditrice 

Di sozzi baci, questo capo mio 
Quanto vendesti ? 

Delilah. 
O, in mercy ! — Remorse 
Tears at my heart ! 

Samson. 



It well becomes me : on my naked skull 
Here, lay thy chaplet of my infamy ! 
Huckster of filthy kisses, for what sum 
Hast sold me ? 



Nell' albeggiar, nel sonno, 
Fra le mense, nel gaudio, e fin nell' ora 
Che scongiuri il tuo Dio, la mia sembi- 

anza 
Ti fiammeggi alio sguardo. 



At dawn and in thy dreams, 

At table, in the dance, even in the hour 

When thou invokest thy God, may my 

form flame 
Before thy eyes. 



Delilah. 



No more ! 



Samson. 



Rovi 
Ti si faccia il sentier : sotto il tuo piede 
Si propaghin le serpi, e lungo, e assiduo, 
II fischio lor, della tua cetra attuti 
L' inno lascivo. Sotto un Ciel di bronzo 
Non viver, no, ma ramingar tu possa 
Come 1' avido bruco — nutrimento 
La cenere ti sia ; gli aurati pepli 
Ti stillin pianto ; e ogni tua gemma, il 

volto 
Del mio sangue ti spruzzi 



Va 



Beneath thy feet 

May the paths break in ruin, and may 
serpents 

Gender along thy way, and with their 
hisses 

Hush the lascivious music of thy harp ! 

Under a sky of brass live thou, and wan- 
der, like 

The greedy worm, and on thy lips thy 
food 

Be ashes ; may the gold wrought bor- 
ders of thy robes 

Distil salt tears, and every gem of thine 

Dash thy false visage with my blood : 

Go — Go ! 



Pardon ! 

Filistei son vostro ! 



Delilah. 



I follow. 



Samson. 

Philistines — I am yours f 

Delilah. 
Bound up in thee 



Orrible barriera 
Ne divide in eterno — i firmamenti 
Crollar vedremo ; in amistanza Iddio 
Con Satana vedrem, pria che dal fango 
Io te sollevi, maledetta donna ! 

[ Via con tutii i Filistei. ,] 



Samson. 

A horrible barrier divideth us 
Forever and forever ! Thou shalt see 
The firmament crumble, and the most 

high god 
In league with hell, or ever Samson stoop 
To lift thee from the dust, accursed wo- 
man ! [Rushes off.] 



SAMSON. 39 



Delilah. 
O, was it me ? So dost thou leave me ? Ah, 
Stay ! Listen ! O, heaven, his life 

Melcah. 
And dost thou pray 
For him ? 

Delilah. 
What hath my heart in it, but him ? 
Do I not love him with a love that hath 
No like nor bound ? 

Melcah. 
And when hast thou before 
Spoken of love ? 'Tis woman's vanity 
That thou call'st love. 

Delilah. 

It is a flame, a fire, 
The whirlwind could not fan to greater fierceness, 
The Red Sea could not quench ! Oh, Melcah, Melcah, 
Thou hast plunged a dagger in my breast, and broken 
My roof above me, poured out on my head 
The inexhaustible cup of human woes, 
And so with sorrow choked my soul in me 
That speech dies on my lips ! 

Melcah. 

A keener anguish 
Hath pierced my heart — a sacred grief that turned 
To hate. 

Delilah. 
Hate ! Thou 

Melcah. 
Yea, I ! A mother's fury 
Rages in me ! A poor despised slave, 
I sheltered in my heart a tender germ, 
And when it grew into the light of day, 
I fed it with my tears more than my milk ; 
In fasting, and in vigilance and fear 
I reared my boy. And he grew strong and bold. 
And in his hand I placed the warrior's sword. 
I saw the prosperous star of the Philistines 
Burn on his brow, and proud of my brave boy, 
I pitied in my slavery those free women 
Who were not mothers. Ah, the day of sorrow 
Dawned upon me ! The mother's smile was banished 
Forever from my lips, and he, thy Samson, 



4° SAMSON. 



Thy treacherous Hebrew, there in Askelon 
Bathed his right hand in my son's blood, and flung 
His fatal garment reeking in my face, 
And bade me keep it for his winding-sheet. 

Delilah. 
Alas, what memories ! \p n ottoman L.\ 

Melcah. 
In that baleful hour 
Upon that sacred spot where my son fell 
I did devote my life to vengeance ; then, 
To compass it, I came to thee, and feigned 
To be the friend of thy lewd paramour, 
And made the closest secrets of your hearts 
My prey ! — But now at last the hour of justice 
Hath struck, and now the mother from the slave 
Hath risen, and the man of death shall die ! 

Delilah. 

[Rises.] Oh, fell Spirit ! [Enter Lantech with slaves, bearing gifts.] 

Lantech. 

To the beauteous lady, whom 
The realm of the Philistines owes so much, 
To fair Delilah, every prince of Gaza 

Sends salutation 

Delilah. 
Oh ! — but Samson 

Lantech. 

In 
The hearts of all Delilah hath a place ; 
Thy name is praised of all, and all desire 
To do thee honor. To the price, we fixed, 
Of many thousand shekels, here we add 
Jewels and gold untold 

Delilah. 
Gold !— gold ! 

Lantech. 
Present 
Our offerings humbly, slaves ! 

[Two slaves present the gifts, kneeling.] 

Delilah. 
To me ? 



SAMSON. 41 



Melcah. 
[Ironically.] Fling this necklace 
Of lucent stones upon thy breast of snow ; 
Put on these purple robes ; twine in thy hair 
These India pearls and beauteous sapphires ; aye, 
Let thy proud beauty clothe itself in all 
These lustrous gems and gold ! 

Delilah. 

Oh, your gifts reek 
With tears ! O hide them ! — I abhor myself, 
Keep, keep your splendid offerings, my lord, 
And give me back again my peace of soul ! 
Thy solemn oaths, thy promise, — hast kept them ? 

Lantech. 
What did I promise thee ? 

Delilah. 
Shall I behold 
Samson alive ? 

Lantech. 
I am the guaranty 

Of Samson's life. [Enter Manoah.] 

Manoah. 

Delilah, oh Delilah, 
What hast thou done unto my son ? 

Delilah. 
[Aside.] Oh, what ? 

Manoah. 
Dost thou stand here in idle talk ? Twas true, 
That horrible rumor, then ? Within these walls 
Was Israel's mighty champion bought and sold ? 
Thou art silent ? Dropp'st thine eye ? Thou tremblest, weepest ? 
Weep, weep, thou cruel wretch ! I have shed tears 
Of blood. 

Delilah. 
Oh, speak ! What meanest thou ? 

Manoah. 

I saw 
My son chained hand and foot, and dragged along 
Like a wild beast, amid the yells and jeers 
Of the Philistine mob. I followed fast 
As age would suffer me, the drunken rabble, 
That flung itself down like an avalanche 
Into the valley where the satraps sat 



42 SAMSON. 



In sinister conclave round, I came, I called, 
I wept, I shrieked in vain ! Horrible sight ! 
Helpless, there Samson stood, the prey and sport 
Of the unpitying multitude that swarmed 
About him, stoning, scourging him with rods, — 
And not yet glutted with their cruelties 
I saw them plunge sharp, red-hot points of steel 
Into his eyes and quench their light forever ! 

Delilah. 
Oh, agony, oh, death ! Merciless fiends ! 
And I did trust thy word ! Away ! The furies 
Of hell awake in me ! Give me, thou, villain, 
My Samson's life ! 

Lantech. 
I've paid for it with gold. 

Delilah. 
I trample on thy gold. I crush, I scatter 
The wages of my crime ! 

Lantech. 
Woman ! 

Delilah. 

Away 
From me ! Where's Samson ? Oh, what darkness 
Is this that wraps me round ? What baleful star 
Strikes its fierce flame into my face ? What moan 
Incessant as if mortal anguish fills 
Mine ear ? It is the roar of Zorah's lion ! 
They steep their fingers in his blood, and write 
Upon my forehead, Bought ! Ah, no, no, no ! 
I am not bought ! The hate of the Philistines 
Hath made me guilty ; but henceforth I trample 
Upon the tombs and altars of my sires. 
For him who is my country and my God 
I do here renounce them all ! {Kneels.} 

Lantech. 
Woman, thou'rt mad ! 

Delilah. 
{Rises.} Begone ! I am not mad, but desperate ! 

Go, go ! {To Manoah.] Holy old man, let me lie at thy feet ! 



ACT V. 



Scene. 

Vestibule under the lemple of Dagon. The rising of the curtain reveals many Israelites 
crouching together. Among them are l^hebni and Neriah and Samson, blind. Gomer 
and other Philistines are keeping watch. 

Gomer. 
Make your choice quickly The temple is adorned 
For a high festival against your coming. 
But no one of your captive crew may be 
Admitted to its solemn rites, unless 
He bow to Dagon. Children of Isreal, 
Choose ye between him and your dungeons ! 

Neriah. 

Haste ! 
Drag me back to my cell ! 

Thebni. 

Double my chains, 
Increase my pains a hundredfold, for I 
Kneel not to heathen idols ! 

Gomer. 
O, your hero 
Is not so haughty ! 

Thebni. 
Who? 

Gomer. 
The judge of Zorah, 
The invincible, the mighty Samson, he 
Who hath been chosen to make the people sport 
Before our Dagon. 

Thebni. 
He! 

Neriah. 

Did I err, then, 
When I denounced thee as a traitor, there 
In Zorah ? 

Gomer. 

Drive these to their cells again 
JLet him remain and rave here in the dust ! 

Neriah. 
He hath earned his reward. 



44 



SAMSON. 



[To Samson.] Stay thou ! 



Thebni. 



[£xi/.] 



Samson. 



E stovvi ; e striscio, come immondo 

verme, 
Sul tramite stranier ; del verme, assai 
Piu derelitto e vil ch' entro i sepolcri 
Ei sta, ma dove da pertugi un breve 
Balior penetri, ei lo respira e vive 
Libero quivi ; io, di catene avvinto 
Schiavo son de' nemici : io, sotto 1' 

ampio 
Padiglione del ciel, sotto i torrenti 
Delia luce immortal, trovo la tomba — 
Ah ! misero Sanson ! nel fior degli anni, 
Tu decrepito se' ! Di tua grandezza 
Tutto passo, fin la memoria, intesa 
A denigrar tue gesta ! Ah ! luttuoso, 
Ripido, lungo, interminabil, fero, 
L' avvenir mi si mostra ! — oh, dove siete, 
Belliche aurore, splendidi meriggi, 
Delia fortezza mia ? campi di Lechi, 
Marosi d' Ascalona, rimbombanti 
D' Etam caverne, oh ! dove siete ? Ahi ! 

notte ? 
Notte e per me ! ! Deh ! il nome mio, 

serbate 
O valli di Tamnata — il nome mio 
Serbate, o tempi . . . e a secoli venturi 
Dite, ch' io nacqui ad atterar la pianta 
De' tristi Faraon : dite, che Iddio 
Mi die' il suo ardir ; ch io rompere 

dovea 
Del popolo di Dio 1' empia catena. 
No, no, codardi ! non si atterra il Dio 
Che eterno sta ! No, maledetti 



I crawl and writhe here like a wounded 

worm 
Under my foemen's feet, more vilely 

wretched 
Than even the loathsome charnel worm, 

for he 
Through some small crevice of the tomb 

enjoys 
A glimmer of the day and lives secure 
And unmolested ! I, loaded down with 

chains, 
Slave of mine enemies, under the vast 

cope 
Of heaven and amidst the noonday 

stream 
Of the all-bathing light immortal, lie 
In darkness blacker than the sepulchres? • 
Miserable Samson ! In the flower of life 
How art thou broken ! Ah, how hath 

thy greatness 
Vanished, and left no memory behind, 
Save such as tarnishes thy mighty deeds 
Wearisome, solitary, horrible 
The future glooms before me! Oh, where 

are ye, 
Ye beauteous dawn, and ye effulgent 

noons 
Of my youth's strength, ye fair wide 

fields of Lebi, 
Ye billow beaten shores o'f Askalon, 
Ye echoing caves of Etam, where are 

you ? 
Night, only night remains ' Oh, vales of 

Timnath, 
Keep, keep my name ! Keep it ye perish- 
ing years, 
And say to aftertimes that I was born 
To trample on the seed of Pharaoh, — 
Say that the Lord endowed me with his 

might 
That I should break the fetters of his 

people ! 
And wilt thou suffer that thy glory, 

Lord, 



SAMSON. 



45 



E soffri, soffri, o Signor, che infame- 

mente, all' imo 
Si trascini tua gloria ? E non distruggi 
Quell' idol tu ? Deh ! mi ridona i miei 
Battiti ardenti ! alia crescente chioma 
Deh ! rinverdi il vigor — damni la 

luce . . . 
La luce mia . . . che' fulmine, cometa 
Io Splendero di morte. [Resta come inspirato.] 



Be mocked in me ? And wilt thou not 
destroy 

Yon idol of theirs ? Oh, give me back 
once more 

My bounding pulses, and my growing 
locks 

Strengthen anew ! And give me sight 
again, 

My sight, that I may fall a thunder- 
bolt, 

A meteor of death upon them. 

[Enter Ddilah and Manoah.} 

Manoah. 



Oh, 
How do I find him ? 

Delilah. 

It makes me afraid 
To look on him ! 

Samson. 

Nel tuo silenzio, leggo, 

Dio di giustizia ... si, vi leggo . . . e 

sento 
Per miracol tuo . . . sul capo mio 
Piover la grazia . . . e dilatarsi . . . e 

forti 
Ridivenir mie membra . . . e ingigantirsi 
L' affranto spirto . . . Ah ! son qual fui ! 



[Comes down?\ 



Methinks thou god of justice, 

That in thy silence I can read and feel, 

By thy miraculous grace, thy spirit 

coming 
Mightily upon me ! I grow, and all 

my limbs 
Throb with the strength of old. My 

broken spirit 
Thrills with gigantic courage. I am — 

I am 
That which I was. 





Manoah. 




The Everlasting God 


Hath not forsaken 


thee. 




Samson. 


Qual voce ! 


What voice ! 




Manoah. 


My son ! 






Samson. 


Tu ! . . . tu ! . . . 


Padre ' II 

' ! Oh, Father! Thou 




Manoah. 



Embrace me ! 



46 SAMSON. 



Samson. 



Oh, the bliss 
To feel once more my father's arm around 

me, 
To kiss his wrinkled brow. 



Oh! gioja! Ancor m' e dato 

Dunque bearmi nel paterno amplesso . . . 

E baciar la tua fronte . . . 

Manoah. 
Life's supreme hour 
Is this for us ! — and thou wilt not refuse 
A father's council ? 

Samson. 

A me ? || I ? 

Manoah. 

Here, in the temple 
The Lords of the Philistines and the people 
Are met to offer sacrifice to Dagon — 
A countless multitude, — and on the roof 
Thousands of men and women sit to look. 
Their hearts are merry with the fumes of wine ; 
They cry, " Our Dagon hath delivered Samson 
Into our hands — our enemy, who destroyed 
Our country and who slew our mighty men. 
Bring us forth Samson to make sport for us." 
And they would force thee to profane thy faith, 
The holy faith of Israel, and thou 

Samson. 
Dei padri II I keep the faith of my forefathers 
La religion sta in me. pure. 

Manoah. 
But they will send their guards to drag thee thither. 

Samson. 
Nulla il potra. No force can do it. 

Manoah. 
I have come with gold, 
With gold abundant and with precious stones, 
To pay thy ransom. 

Samson. 
Di Sansone ii padre II And will Samson's father 
A' Filistei si curva ? || Bow down to the Philistines ? 

Manoah. 
No! 

Samson. 

Chi dunque, II Who then 
Osa pregar per me ? |' Will pray them for me ? 



SAMSON. 



47 



Delilah. 
[Coming down L.] The unhappiest, 

The guiltiest of women ! 

Sam son. 
Tu? I Thou ? 

DelilaJi. 
My shame 
Hath eaten deep into my soul, and men 
Shall never see me lift my face again ; 
I hope for nothing now but that my torment 
May bring me death ! 

Samson. 
Alteramente 
Sorger tu puoi — devi fissar lo sguardo 
Nella vittima tua — mi vedi ? . . . 



But thou should'st lift thy face 
And triumph in thy victim. Look on 
me. 



Delilah. 
Have pity, have pity on me ! 

Samson. 
Di Sansone innante 

L' ombra ti sta — vedi — qui, dove il raggio 

Delia vita splendea . . . fosche tenebre 

Si addensano, per te — del Nazzareo 

Per te fu raso il benedetto crine . . . 

E non sei paga ? . . . Oh ! di tal vista 

appieno 

Pasci il tuo cor . . . ma, sull' affanno 



The ghost of Samson 
Standeth before thee ! Look here, where 

the light 
Of life once shone. See how the dark- 
ness thickens 
In the empty sockets. They were 

quenched for thee, 
For thee the Nazarite's sacred locks 

were shorn. 
Art thou not satisfied ? Feed full thy 

heart 
Upon the sight ! But what hast thou to 

do 
Here with my misery ? Who bade thee 

buy 
My safety with the gold for which thou 

sold'st me ? 



' 



Qual dritto hai tu ? chi t' insegno com 

prare 
Coll' or che mi vende, la mia salvezza ? 

Delilah. 

Be not so wrath with me 

Samson. 
Dell' orrevol padre My father's presence 

Sotto 1' usbergo stai, ne' in suon di Shall be thy shield, and I will speak no 

sdegno more 

Ti parlo io piu. Di Giovine d' anni, al ;i In anger with thee ! Young in years, I 
varco stand 



4 8 



SAMSON. 



Io mi scorgo di morte, e dentro il bujo 
De' santissimi veri, io vo' che sfumi 
La macchia della polve, onde lo spirto 
Reo non si mostri. Piu che tua, fu mia 
La imperdonabil colpa, e . . . rassegnato 
Io ne porto la pena. Giubilante 
Cogline il premio tu ! De' Filistei 
Mesciti al coro . . . di Dagone all' are 
Va, ti profuma degli aromi suoi ; 
Cingi le tempia delle sue ghirlande . . . 
Quelli, i tuoi fregi son ... 1' altare e 

quello 
Di Dalila famosa ! . . . 



Upon the brink of death, and I would 

fain 
Wash all the stains of dust away, that I 
Guiltless may pass to the eternal truth 
That veils itself beyond. Mine now, 

not thine 
The unpardonable fault hath been, and I 
Must bear the penalty in patience. 

Keep 
The guerdon, thou ! Mingle with the 

Philistines, 
Seek Dagon's altar and perfume thyself 
With the sweet incense burning at his 

shrine, 
Yea, deck thy temples with his wreaths, 

for they 
Should be thy badge, and he should 

share his altar 
With great Delilah. 



Delilah. 
Nay, my badge shall be 
A crown of thorns. O, I was rather weak 
Than guilty. But I will implore no longer 
Thy pardon.— Thy just wrath should strike me dead 
Before thy face. — The evil fate that choked 
All virtue in me, from my mother's breast, 
And gifted me with infamy and beauty, 
That evil destiny bewildered me, 
And I became the weapon of thy foes : 
I am the fountain of thy woes ; 'twas I 
That lured thee on, and thou shalt punish me : 
I do beseech thee, kill me with thy hand ! 

Manoah. 
O let us fly, while yet 'tis time 

Samso/i. 
Del genitor, m' e sacro 
L' alto voler . . . ma da quest' atrio, il 
piede 



Muover non debbo. 

forza 
Qui mi rattien . . 

Iddio 
Par che mi parli ! 

O, fly— 



. . . Sovrumana 
da queste volte, 



My father, 
Thy will is sacred unto me, but never 
Shall I set foot beyond this threshold 

more. 
The will of the eternal stays me here, 
And from yon vault methinks I hear the 

voice 
Of God speak unto me. 



Delilah. 



SAMSON. 49 



Manoali. 
My son ! \Enter Lantech.] 

Lantech. 
The multitude call on Delilah's name ! 

Sams on. 
A' meritati plausi II Why runnest thou not to meet the well 
Perche" non corri ? [I earned praise ? 

Delilah. 

Samson 

Samson. 



The harps of the Philistines praise thee, 

And worthy of song is Sorek's beaute- 
ous lady ! 

Bow down before her feet, Princes of 
Gaza, 

Upon your altars lift your heroine. 



Di Filiste 
Risuonin 1' arpe, che, di canti e degna 
La donna di Sorec ! Prenci di Gaza 
Curvatevi al suo pie : sui vostri 

altari 
L' eroina ponete ! 

Lantech. 
Woe unto thee, if thou dost not refrain 
Thine insolent raillery. Thou hast suffered him 
Too long, Delilah. Leave the impious Hebrew 
Here to his shame. 

Delilah. 

No, no ; I cannot leave him ! 

Lantech. 
Then I will tear thee from the coward's breast 
With my own hands. Come ! 

Delilah. 
No! 

Lantech. 
Prepare thyself, 
Thou mountebank, to make us sport ; 
If thou shalt fall below our expectations, 
Or thy strength fail thee ! 

Samson. 
Sorgeran giganti. It shall rise gigantic. 

Lantech. 
Woe unto thee if thou 

Delilah. 
For mercy's sake ! 

Lantech. 
Go thou before me into the temple. 

Delilah. 
[Moving toward temple door .] Alas ! [Exit.\ 



5° 



SAMSON. 



Lantech. 
The multitude awaits thee ; all are eager 
To look upon thee ; I grant thee but a moment. 

Samson. 
E un atimo mi basta. || An instant were enough. 

Manoah. 
What sayest thou ? 

Samson. 



\Exit:\ 



A soffocar le grida 
De' perfidi idolatri .... un' armonia 
Non ascolti di Cielo ? Non ti appare 
Come sul Sina .... scintillante il 

ferro 
Delia Diva Giustizia? Alia mia mente 
Egli fiammeggia . . . . e a vendicar 

r Eterno 



Io 



lo brandisco. Soli siam noi ? 



Dost thou not hear a heavenly harmony 
That drowns the yells of yon idolators ? 
Dost thou not see as on Sinai of old 
The sword of God's eternal justice 

gleam ? 
It blazes on the sightless sockets, and 

I 

I seize it to avenge the everlasting. 
Are we alone ? 



Manoah. 



We are alone. 
La, la, del tempio all' ultimo 
scal£o 
Traggimi andiamo. 



Samson. 

There, yonder 

Beside the stairway to the temple's door 
Place me, my father. Let me feel the 

pillars 
That the house stands on. 



Manoah. 
Here, this is the base 
Of the two pillars. 

Samson. 
Sotto 1' iniqua soglia 
Ecco, io mi curvo, e benedetto io chiedo, 
Esser da te. 



Lo ! I bow myself 
Under the guilty roof, and I implore 
Thy blessing. 



Manoah. 
Yea, I bless thee ; but what thought 
Is thine, my son ? Tell me ! 

Samson. 



Crebbe, 
Crebbe la chioma ; nelle vene il sangue 
Lava si e fatto ! 



My locks are grown again, 

And in my veins the hot blood boils 

Like molten lava. 



Voices. 
Bring us Samson, to make us sport ! 

Samson. 
Padre, fuggi, ti salva. 



[ Within the ttmfh.] 



SAMSON 



5' 



Manoah 
W hat ? I Enter Zambres. J 

Zambres. 

Patience can endure 
No more. Old man, leave the slave to his duty. 

Samson. 
Si . . . per sempre ! \ Leave me forever ! 

Manoah. 
The Lord keep thee and help thee. [Exit Manoah.] 

Voices. [ Within.] 

Samson, bring Samson ! 



Samson. 



E Dio 
Tutto h con me — delle falangi sue 
La forza ei diem mi ... e ad atterrar 

son pronto 
La casa del delitto ! {Scuote le colonne, 

e si ode un cupo rumore nelV interno 

del Tempid). Oh, gioja ! . . . il 

pianto 
Gia comincia de' rei . . . dai fondamenti 
Gia traballa il terren — Pieno esterminio 
Abbia Filiste omai — Giu . . . Giu, 

crollate 
Cadete, o mura . . . ch' esser qui 

sepolto 
Io bramo . . . e vo' pure . . . cheilmio 

popol viva ! 



God is all with me ! 

He fills me with the power of his hosts. 

Remember me, oh, Lord, remember, I 

pray thee 
Only this once ! Oh, God, that I may be 
Avenged on the Philistines for mine 

eyes ! 
Now fall, fall thou temple of iniquity — 
Oh, joy — I feel it shake on its founda- 
tions ! 
I hear the shriek of the idolators 
Already. Let them all die — 
Crumble walls — down — down, 
And let me die with the Philistines, 
I pray thee, Lord, and let my people 
live. 



[The temple /alls, and Samson is buried in the ruins.] 



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